Waimaunga Sauvignon Blanc - Clos Henri

Waimaunga Sauvignon Blanc - Clos Henri sparkles in the glass in a bright straw yellow with delicate greenish highlights reminiscent of morning dew in the vineyard. The nose unfolds with an intense and clear bouquet of freshly pressed lime, ripe gooseberry and fragrant lemon zest, underpinned by precise, cool minerality. On the palate, the wine is taut, linear and energetic, with precise, invigorating acidity and crystal-clear structure. The texture is crisp and refreshing, the fruit appears crystal clear, and the finish is long and salty-mineral. Fine citrus notes run from the first sip through to the finale, combining with a hint of fresh herbs and wet stones.

On the palate, a vibrant dialogue emerges between juicy citrus fruit, green gooseberry and chalky minerality. The fruit aromas are precisely defined; nothing seems overloaded, everything remains focused and elegant. The acidity carries the aromas like a tightly strung backbone and gives the wine impressive freshness. Tannin appears only in the finest nuance, more as a delicate grip on the finish. This style is an excellent match for Marlborough’s cool climate and impressively reflects its origin.

• Colour: bright straw yellow with greenish highlights
• Aromas: lime, gooseberry, lemon zest, subtle herbal spice, minerality
• Taste: dry, clear, citrus-fresh, marked by minerality
• Texture: crisp, linear, cool in character
• Finish: long, citrus-driven, salty-mineral

The Sauvignon Blanc grape variety displays a highly characteristic expression in Marlborough. The interplay of intense sunlight, cool nights and maritime influences produces grapes with strong aromatic tension and impressive freshness. In the Waimaunga Sauvignon Blanc - Clos Henri, this origin is distilled into an expressive white wine that combines a modern New World style with French-influenced finesse.

1. Cool-climate Marlborough growing region with pronounced day-night temperature differences
2. Single-varietal Sauvignon Blanc from selected parcels
3. Ageing in stainless steel tanks for maximum clarity and freshness
4. New World style with pronounced fruit and precise minerality

The wine’s origin clearly shapes its character. Marlborough on New Zealand’s South Island is regarded as one of the world’s most impressive regions for Sauvignon Blanc. Cool breezes from the Pacific, intense sunny days and well-ventilated vineyards produce grapes with pronounced aromatic expression and marked acidity. The wine carries this terroir into the glass, telling of sparse soils, clear air and generous light.

Production of Waimaunga Sauvignon Blanc by Clos Henri

Clos Henri’s vineyards are located in selected sites in Marlborough, characterised by gravel, shingle terraces and partly clay-limestone soils. These substrates provide good drainage and restrain vine growth. The result is concentrated grapes with dense aromas and clear structure. The vines root deeply, absorb mineral nuances from the soils and later reflect them in the glass.

The climate is predominantly cool, with plenty of sunshine and fresh nights. This combination preserves the aromatic intensity of the Sauvignon Blanc grapes and ensures slow, even ripening. The harvest date is precisely timed to achieve the ideal interplay of acidity and fruit. The grapes reach the winery after strict selection, with only flawless fruit being used.

Gentle processing follows the harvest. The grapes are quickly transferred to the press to prevent oxidation and preserve their radiant aromas. The wine is matured in stainless steel tanks, allowing the variety’s character and origin to take centre stage without the influence of oak. Cool fermentation keeps the delicate aromas of lime, gooseberry and lemon zest fresh and vibrant.

Stainless-steel ageing emphasises clarity, precision and pronounced minerality. The winemaker largely avoids bâtonnage or uses it only very sparingly, allowing the wine to retain its taut, chiselled character. The Clos Henri style reveals French roots translated through New Zealand terroir: elegance, structure and length are the focus, rather than sheer intensity. Each vintage is created with great care, with a clear emphasis on harmony between fruit, acidity and minerality.

Serving recommendations for Waimaunga Sauvignon Blanc - Clos Henri

This Sauvignon Blanc pairs wonderfully with delicate and light dishes. Particularly appealing combinations include fish and seafood-based starters, such as sea bream ceviche, scallops on a citrus carpaccio or grilled prawns with a lime marinade. Fine sushi variations, pristine sashimi or tuna tartare also form an elegant partnership with the wine’s citrus-led character.

• Delicate fish dishes, steamed or grilled
• Seafood, especially prawns, scallops and oysters
• Light poultry dishes with fresh herbs
• Summer salads with goat’s cheese, citrus fruits or avocado
• Vegetable dishes with asparagus, fennel or courgette

Vegetarian dishes also accompany the Waimaunga Sauvignon Blanc - Clos Henri with ease. Goat’s cheese tart, risotto with green asparagus or pasta with lemon and ricotta sauce create delicate, aromatic dialogues. The wine’s crisp structure provides a refreshing counterpoint and highlights the dishes’ subtle flavours.

As an accompaniment to convivial evenings on the terrace or a stylish aperitif, this wine has great appeal. At receptions, garden parties or relaxed dinner parties, its aroma creates anticipation as soon as it is poured. It is also an appealing gift for lovers of aromatic New World white wines.

The ideal serving temperature is between 8 and 10 °C. In a finely shaped white wine glass, the wine reveals its aromatic precision particularly impressively. A little aeration in the glass intensifies the citrus-fresh notes and mineral depth. Storing it for a few years preserves its freshness and gives the wine additional complexity without sacrificing its clear, fruit-focused direction.

The Waimaunga Sauvignon Blanc - Clos Henri thus presents itself as a distinctive representative of Marlborough, impressively combining the grape variety, origin and signature of Clos Henri. Each bottle brings the cool elegance of New Zealand, brilliant Sauvignon Blanc fruit and precise minerality to the glass in perfect harmony.

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